Grow Remote – Future of Work Pulse: Q2 2025

The “Grow Remote – Future of Work Pulse” looks at what’s shaping the future of work across Ireland and beyond. We round up the latest stories, share insights, opinions and spotlight where remote and hybrid models are helping people, employers and communities thrive all while not shying away from the challenges of remote!

As we look back at Q2 2025, one message is clear: remote and hybrid work are no longer just workplace experiments, they’re shaping the future of work across Ireland. From IBEC’s findings on flexibility as a foundation for wellbeing to Forbes’ call for rethinking how we work, the dialogue and data show maturity in how flexible models are evolving. Hybrid work is proving a catalyst for gender parity, productivity, and retention, with IWG reporting 67% of professionals see career benefits.

Yet challenges remain – like culture-building and management training, but they’re prompting more intentional design, not rollback. According to CIPD Ireland, 9 in 10 organisations say hybrid work boosts recruitment and retention. In Dublin, 27% of businesses still offer full flexibility, and 75% of those are sticking with it. Meanwhile, Great Place to Work reports that 65% of Ireland’s top workplaces operate hybrid or remote-first. Despite public debates, the evidence from across the public and private sector points in one direction: flexible work, done well, supports people, performance, and progress.

The quarterly wrap combines x3 sources of data 👇

1) Future of Work Pulse Monthly Reports
2) The State of Remote Jobs in IE
3) Talk To The Customer (Grow Remote)

It is no longer a question of where work is done – but how work is done!

1) Grow Remote – Future of Work Pulse Monthly Reports

Key insights and data points from Q2 editions 1, 2 & 3 👇

Edition 1: https://growremote.ie/grow-remote-future-of-work-pulse-edition-1/

1. 1. 1. IBEC Report shows that flexibility is central to workplace wellbeing flexibility and is not just a perk; it’s foundational to wellbeing and retention in the modern workplace.

         Key Data: 68% of people say flexible or hybrid work is key to their wellbeing, and 35% would leave a high-paying job for it.

   1. 1. IWG report looks into gender parity, productivity, and the power of hybrid work is helping close gender gaps and support career progression, especially for women.

         Key Data: 64% of women say hybrid work is twice as important as parental leave.

   1. 1. The Irish Examiner states that “Remote Work Isn’t Always Easy – but that’s not the point. Challenges like communication and training gaps are real, but they’re a call for better design, not a reason to revert.

         Key Data: 36% of IT leaders cite training and development as a top challenge in remote work.

   Edition 2: https://growremote.ie/grow-remote-future-of-work-pulse-edition-2/

   

   1. 1. 1. The Independent ran an article that discussed whether remote work is “A Load of Nonsense” or A Missed Opportunity for Better Conversations? The article sparked debate, but 3rd party data cited shows strong employee and indeed management support for remote models.

            Key Data: 84% of workers say remote work increases productivity, and 79% say it lowers stress.

      1. 1. Leading Remote Employer HubSpot released a Playbook for “Hybrid by Design” as a blueprint for operating models A model of intentional design over default rules, built on feedback, clarity, and trust is how HubSpot have defined their operating model and set best practice.

            Key Insight: Employees choose their work mode – @home, @office or @flex – and they are supported with tools, async norms, and manager training to make them all work!

      1. 1. CIPD’s 2025 Survey Tells Us What’s Really Going On With Hybrid Work Hybrid is no longer experimental, it’s a strategic tool for retention and inclusion.

            Key Data: 90% of organisations say hybrid work supports recruitment and retention.

      Edition 3: https://growremote.ie/grow-remote-future-of-work-pulse-edition-3/

      

      1. 1. 1. Forbes article reports “Remote Work Isn’t The Problem, The Way We Work Is” Remote work shines a light on deeper organisational issues that need fixing.

               Key Data: Only 15% of HR leaders at companies with location choice reported retention challenges. That number jumps to 45% at companies mandating in-office attendance.

         1. 1. Dublin Chambers Business Outlook Report defines 25%+ of businesses represented offer full flexibility and the significant majority are sticking to it for year ahead Even with some policy shifts, over a quarter of companies still offer full flexibility and most are keeping it.

               Key Data: 83% say flexibility is being provided to boost employee wellbeing, 80% are using it as a talent retention tool, 15% provide flexibility to accommodate employees facing housing challenges.

         1. 1. Great Place to Work Ireland data shows flexibility is the hallmark of Ireland’s best workplaces and a driver of about force productivity High-trust, flexible environments correlate with better productivity and culture.

               Key Data: 65% of employees in certified Best Workplaces are hybrid or fully remote.

         2) The State of Remote Jobs in IE

         In addition to the key insights and data points above we will bring in an additional data set that we include in our monthly Career Resources newsletter where we look specifically at the number of remote jobs that are available in Ireland.

         We have been tracking this data for 6 months on LinkedIn with a very simple methodology that takes advantage of LinkedIn’s jobs board and filters (methodology shown here).

         In 2025 Q2 the % of remote jobs is at a 2025 peak with remote & hybrid jobs at 43%.

         Remote = 19%
         Hybrid = 24%
         Remote & Hybrid (Combined) = 43%
         On-Site = 57%

         

         You can view all data collected and chart here.

          There is regular media coverage of the quarterly Jobs Index from IrishJobs.ie that defines that fully remote job postings accounted for just 2.3% of all job listings in Q4 2024 – close to pre-pandemic levels. Based on the data used as input the reports and coverage are correct and on the surface, this might appear to confirm the idea that remote work is disappearing. However, data from LinkedIn tells a very different story and we dive into it further here.

         3) Grow Remote – Talk To The Customer

         In addition to the key insights and data covered in the Future of Work pulse and the #’s tracked on LinkedIn related to jobs, we have also been speaking to business leaders and decision makers on the ground. Grow Remote has always been community led, it is part of our culture and DNA as a social enterprise. When it comes to trading for impact we have also always been industry expert led.

         In 2025 Q2 our team spoke with 25+ employers to explore the challenges of remote they face and what these problems actually mean for day-to-day operations. Below are just three examples from our key findings, connected directly to a relevant remote work challenge category.

         1. 1. 1. Communication and Collaboration

                  
                  “No, we don’t have a comms charter in place. Current ways of working feel inefficient and unstructured the more our team adopts hybrid work.”

                  “Previously used email and WhatsApp; moved to a dedicated all singing and dancing tool for better structure but there is a learning curve and ops governance that means it’s been a bumpy ride.”

            1. 1. Maintaining Productivity and Monitoring Performance

                  
                  “We have invested a lot in shaping our new strategy but there is a lack of visibility on engagement, and siloed work can at times affect collaboration.”

                  “Some of our management teams seem to be facing challenges in understanding true performance without in-person cues.”

            1. 1. Fostering Team Cohesion and Company Culture

                  
                  “I would be critical of forced fun; there is a growing need for peer-led social cohesion and culture building initiatives as ways of working evolve.”

                  “There is a growing concern about how hybrid set-ups affect introverted and junior staff. Also concerns about team members’ home situations (e.g., suitability for productive work from home).”

            These real-world conversations remind us that the future of work isn’t shaped in reports alone-it’s built in meeting rooms, home offices, and shared conversations like these. At Grow Remote, we’re using these insights to evolve our programmes and resources, ensuring they’re grounded in what employers truly need. By combining lived experience with expert design, we can help more teams not just adapt to remote work, but thrive in it.

            Explore how Grow Remote can support you:

            🔹 Employer Services – Training, Workshops and Consultancy.
            🔹 Community – Local Events, Community Partnerships and Volunteer Programme.
            🔹 Policy & Advocacy – National and Regional Collaboration and Partnerships.

            Contact us: [email protected]

            Let’s build the future of work together.